Phelan man offering $1K reward

Friday

Aug 10, 2012 at 6:28 AMAug 10, 2012 at 6:30 AM

Tomoya Shimura, Staff Writer

PHELAN • A Phelan man said he is offering $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a person or persons involved in the death of his wife, who was found in a chicken coop behind their home.

San Bernardino County Sheriff's officials said the investigation is ongoing and they haven't officially ruled whether or not Linda Concepcion's death was homicide.

Her 71-year-old husband, Sigfredo Concepcion, said he came home around 10:30 p.m. on July 8 and saw his wife's car parked in an unusual spot. No one was in the car, but he found her purse and phone inside, Sigfredo Concepcion said.

"I started getting goose bumps," he said. "I take the flashlight and start going towards the old chicken coop (used for storage). I don't see her. 'Linda! Linda!' I keep yelling, keep going in and she was laying on the ground. First I thought she had a heart attack. I didn't see any blood, no scars, no nothing. I combed her hair with my fingers. 'Linda, Linda, wake up.' "

He said he called 911 and tried to conduct CPR but couldn't open her mouth.

San Bernardino County Fire Department emergency crews arrived at the home in the 4200 block of Cayucos Road, but the 64-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sigfredo Concepcion said he gave his key to a sheriff's deputy to check inside the house. The deputy came back and told him the door had been kicked in, according to Sigfredo Concepcion.

Homicide detectives arrived and sealed off the whole property until the following evening, Sigfredo Concepcion said.

"There were some suspicious circumstances found at the home," Detective William Doemner told the Daily Press. However, he didn't discuss details.

Sigfredo Concepcion said he finally went inside the house on July 13. He said there was a big disarray in the house with drawers pulled out and clothes and other personal items scattered on the floor. Three pistols, a couple hundred dollars, a digital camera, jewelry, watches and other items were missing, he said.

"Most of them were sentimental more than anything," he said. "Everything could be replaced except for my wife, of course."

Deputy Coroner Investigator David Van Norman said he cannot comment on the cause of Linda Concepcion's death because the investigation is ongoing.

Sigfredo Concepcion said he didn't see any blood on her or any marks on her neck.

"My wife, she looked beautiful," he said. "Her hair was combed. She had nice makeup on. She was dressed really nice. She was very beautiful."

He said he's been interviewed repeatedly by investigators and asked to take a lie detector test.

"So I said, 'I am a suspect?'" Sigfredo Concepcion said. "They said 'No, we didn't say that at all. We just have to eliminate you.'"

Sheriff's Detective A.J. Gibilterra, who's assigned to the case, said he cannot comment on the ongoing investigation.

Online court records show Sigfredo and Linda Concepcion were in the process of divorce. Sigfredo filed for divorce in November and the court processed it in February without any opposition from his wife. Linda Concepcion died three days before they were officially divorced.

Sigfredo Concepcion said he divorced her so she can qualify for subsidized health care.

He said his wife had numerous medical conditions but had no health insurance. A hospital declined to treat her because they make too much as a couple, according to Sigfredo Concepcion.

"I asked the (hospital) clerk, 'If she and I were divorced, will she qualify?' She said yes." Sigfredo Concepcion said.

He said they had been married for more than 20 years. The day before Linda Concepcion died, the couple talked about selling their nearly 6-acre property, which made her happy, Sigfredo Concepcion said.

"Now because what occurred, I hate the house," he said, starting to choke. "I hate it because it took my wife."

The Sheriff's Department is asking anyone with information regarding this case to call detectives Doemner or Gibilterra at (909) 387-3589. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the WeTip Hotline at (800) 78-CRIME.

Tomoya Shimura may be reached at (760) 955-5368 or TShimura@VVDailyPress.com. Follow Tomoya on Facebook at facebook.com/ShimuraTomoya.

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